Attachment for banjos



L TU R A N N E K H B ATTACHMENT FOR BANJOS.

No. 421,173. Patented Feb. 11,1890,

ATTORNEY.

PETER; mmurw m Mme-L u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BALTIS H. KENNARD, JR, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ATTACHMENT FOR BANJOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,173, dated February 11, 1890.

Application filed February 14, 1889. Serial No. 299,846. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that. I, BALTIS H. KENNARD, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Banjos, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to a banjo-tone modifier. The tone of the banjo 'ordin arily is loud, dull, and metallic. \Vhile this is sometimes desirable, my invention will change or modify this tone at the will of the performer, who can by means of my attachment gradually modulate and soften the ordinarybanjosound until it accords harmoniously with the guitar, zither, autoharp, or other soft-toned instruments withwhich it may be played in unison.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side View of abanjo, the body part of which is shown in section. Fig. 2 is a top viewof the body or head of the banjo. Fig. 3 is an under side view of same. Fig. 4 is a section of a part of the banjo-neck and a sectional view of my attachment. Fig. 5 is a view of the notched plate. Fig. 6 is a top and end view ofthe presser-plate. Fig. 7 is a bot tom view of same.

The letter A designates the body of the banjo, comprising the circular rim 1) and the head 0, of sheep skin or parchment, The neck D extends diametrically across the body and is attached to the rim 0. The bridgepiece 6, over which the strings are stretched, rests upon the top side of the head 0. All these parts, which are common to banjos, are here referred to merely to assist in reaching a clear understanding of my invention.

The presser block or plate F, as'here shown, consists of a block having a contactrim g, which is to bear against the under side of the banjo-head c opposite the bridge-piece c, as shown in the drawings. The material of the presser-block F or its shape is a matter of no special consequence. It may be made of metal, wood, vulcanized rubber, or other material.

In the present instance the contact-rim g of the plate is rectangular and is partly separated from the plate by open spaces h. It

will be observed that its place of contact on the under side of the banjo-head is such that its rim g takes around or circumscribes the spot whereonthe bridge-piece e bears. This particular arrangement of presser-plate and bridge-piece is found to be productive of the best results, though it is not essential, as a very pleasing modification of the ordinary thruniming banjo-tone may be effected by an otherwise application of the presserplate. This presser-plate may be attached either to the rim 1) or neck D of the banjo under the head. In this instance it is shown attached indirectly to the banjo-neck D. An adj usting-holder for the presser-plate consists of a plate 71:, having a Ushaped notch and se cured to the banjo-neck D. A screw I has an annular groove j, which takes and is free to turn in the said U'notch 7c on the plate. The screw also has asmooth central body Z, which turns in a hole in the neck, and at its end on the screw is threaded. Said threaded end takes in a hole m in the presser-plate. It will be seenthat the screw I may be turned freely without itself advancing; but when turned its thread m acts on the presser-plate, which will be adjusted to or from the banjohead 0. Thus the screw device is an adj usting-holder of the presser-plate. A very gentle pressure of the plate-rim against the banjo head is suflicient to produce a modified tone, and a variation in the pressure will produce variations in the tone. By the means here shown the performer on a banjo may at will or pleasure apply or remove the tone-modulating presser-plate.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. A banjo-tone modifier consisting of a plate provided with a contact-rim g, which is partly separated from the plate by open spaces, and an adjusting-holder attached to the plate.

2. A banjo-tone modifier consisting of a contact presser-plate having a screw-hole m, a plate It, having a U-shaped notch, and a screw I, provided with an annular groove which fits and turns freely in said U-notch, and having a screw-threaded end on, which takes into the hole in the presser-plate, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BALTIS II. KENNARD, JR. Witnessesi J NO. Enw. MORRIS, J NO. '1. MADDOX. 

